Three people overdose on heroin in Salem; one victim is in coma

SALEM — Police are investigating a series of heroin overdoses that happened on Monday and Tuesday.

Shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Monday, police and fire personnel responded to a report of a drug overdose at 12 Ticklefancy Lane, according to Deputy Police Chief Shawn Patten.

Emergency personnel found two people in a car in the driveway who were unresponsive and not breathing.

“Lifesaving measures were performed on both subjects, and both were immediately transported to Massachusetts hospitals,” Patten said.

A 21-year-old man was revived at the hospital and is in stable condition. A 20-year-old woman from Haverhill, Mass., was subsequently transported to a Boston hospital and is currently in critical condition in a coma.

Police are not releasing the names of the victims at this time until next of kin have been notified.

Salem detectives responded to both the residence and the hospitals, and Patten said police believe both victims, as well as a third person, bought the heroin in Lawrence and snorted in on the way to Salem.

“Police are aware of similar overdoses in the area and possible bad batch of heroin being distributed in the area,” according to Patten. He said the police department will be contacting other area agencies as part of the investigation.

The second heroin overdose call came in on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at 161 Bluff St. A 21-year-old man was found unconscious and not breathing.

Paramedics performed lifesaving measures on him and transported him to a local hospital. It is believed that the man was acquainted with the victims in the Monday overdose, according to police.